The driveway back to the refuge is about a quarter mile long. That sounds simple enough until you remember that words like “driveway” can mean very different things depending on where you are. In town, a driveway is a strip of concrete where people park SUVs too large for their actual needs. At the refuge, … Read more
This is not the final solution. It is simply the one that works for me right now while I build the Refuge. My temporary toilet setup is functional and meets my needs. Like many things out here, “good enough today” beats waiting for the perfect solution tomorrow. Current Setup I use a standard 5-gallon bucket. … Read more
Refuge Field Ration Review Field Rating ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ 6/10 Flavor Fuel Efficiency: ★★★★★Ease of Preparation: ★★★★★Cleanup: ★★★★★ Would Buy Again: Yes After a long drive and a full day of shopping, I wanted something quick that wouldn’t keep the generator running any longer than necessary. Tonight’s test was the Rana refrigerated lasagna from Walmart. First Impressions … Read more
The Situation During earlier trips to the Refuge, my normal routine was to run the generator overnight. It worked, but it had several drawbacks, especially compared to an off grid power station: This trip I brought the GRECELL HW02 portable power station to answer a simple question: Can a small battery system handle my basic … Read more
From Wheels to Shelter An old RV sitting on a piece of land creates an interesting question: Can I transform this RV into a Cabin? Are you restoring a camper? Or are you building a small cabin? Those sound similar, but they lead to completely different decisions. A road-ready RV has one purpose: Move. Everything … Read more
Sometimes the Best Homestead Gear Was Never Designed for Homesteading Spend enough time planning a cabin, homestead, workshop, or off-grid refuge and one problem eventually appears: Something else wants your supplies. Food storage is not just about organization. It is about protection. Mice do not care that you carefully labeled your containers. They are not … Read more